Diptyque Eau Rihla. Image: Courtesy of brand.
Celebrating the French fragrance maison’s 60th anniversary, Diptyque’s new launch – Eau Rihla – has a special connection to the Middle East. Named for the Arabic word Rihla, meaning journey, the new fragrance was inspired by the 14th century globe-trotting merchant, Ibn Battuta and his travels throughout the known world. Perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin drew his inspiration directly from Diptyque co-founder Desmond Knox-Leet’s leather-bound sketching notebook and Ibn Battuta’s leather luggage. Weathered and worn, the leather keynote is “an invitation to travel”, says Pellegrin. An exclusive to the brand molecule, extracted from rare cedar wood, forms the heart of the fragrance, layered with iris and musk. A bazaar of spices – much like the ones encountered by Ibn Battuta in far-flung lands – linger, with notes of saffron, pink peppercorn, and vanilla. Diptyque’s signature ‘olfactory accidents’ emerges as an energetic, sweet raspberry opening note.
Diptyque Eau Rihla. Photo: Courtesy of Diptyque
The bottle’s artwork is unmistakably Middle Eastern, an etched illustration by Safia Ouares featuring an iconic Bedouin landscape of desert dunes, date palms, a falcon and camels. Another special touch – the oval label is a glided gold, a different route from Diptyque’s usual black and white branding.
Diptyque Eau Rihla artwork. Image: Courtesy of brand.
Available as an exclusive for the region, Eau Rihla will be available only in the Middle East from May 1st, until June 2021, when it will release to the international market. The new fragrance coincides with Diptyque’s 60th anniversary, since first being founded by Yves Coueslant, Desmond Knox-Lett, and Christiane Gaudrot in 1961, with further celebrations planned for later in the year.
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